Glamorgan announce big loss

Glamorgan have announced a loss of £175,000 for last season, more than three times the amount they lost in 2004.

In the annual report to members Phil Russell, the chairman, admitted it had been a disappointing year for the club. There was actually an operating profit of £124,000, but poor performances on the field, a smaller central grant and the loss of the Wales-England one-day fixture hit the club.

On a brighter note, the income from commercial activity rose by 30 per cent and Russell says Sophia Gardens is hopeful of staging Test matches with three or four years. They are now awaiting council planning permission on their controversial development plans and have an England-Pakistan ODI this summer which will boost their finances.

It has been a tough build-up to the new season for Glamorgan with the loss of both original overseas players, Matthew Elliott and Michael Kasprowicz, forcing them into last minute changes. They have brought in Mark Cosgrove from South Australia and are currently trying to secure James Franklin, the New Zealand left-arm seamer.